Ancient Chinese bird kept its feathers, and colors, for 130 million years

This ancient Chinese bird kept its feathers, and colors, for 130 million years

Fossils of ancient bird, Eoconfuciusornis, revealed microscopic evidence of pigment within its feathers, which were preserved for 130 million years. An international team of U.S. and Chinese scientists analyzed the color of the bird, the oldest known avian after the proto-bird Archaeopteryx, by first identifying a protein from its fossilized feathers that enables modern-day birds to fly.

washingtonpost.com